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Japanese Apricot

Japanese apricot

The wide genus Prunus comprises trees and shrubs, grown for their fruits, and includes also a great amount of ornamental species, grown for the beauty of their flowers. They live in the mild region of the northern hemisphere, even if they are widespread in Japan and in the Far East. Prunus Mume, probably coming from China and Korea, has been cultivated in Japan for generations for its wonderful and sweet-smelling flowers, animating its bare branches at the end of winter. P. spinosa, the needle plum commonly used in Europe as hedge, is really refined as bonsai specimen and it represents a very good alternative to P. mume.

 

Japanese apricot
 
Detail
Detail

 

   
Exposure
Exposure
 

Sunlight. Shelter it from winter frost to avoid withering of the branches and damages to the flowers.

 

Watering
Watering
 

Everyday during the vegetative season. Water it less frequently in winter, but keep the soil wet as soon as the buds grow, to avoid the fall of buds and flowers.

 

Fertilizing
Fertilizing
 

 

A rich summer fertilization will improve blossom in winter. The quality depends on the type of soil and water. Fertilize every two weeks at least in summer. Better if more often.

 

Repotting
Repotting
 

Every year in late winter, at the end of the blossom. Use base mould.

 

Pruning
Pruning
 

Prune it carefully after the fall of the flowers. Let it grow freely in summer, and then shorten the several sprouts in autumn.

 

Propagation
Propagation
 

By semi-wood cutting at the end of winter. By grafts in winter or in spring.

Bonsai styles

Suitable for every style, apart from Formal Upright or Broom styles, and for every size.

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